International Political Communication, Advocacy and Campaigning MSc: Course features

If you choose to study this course, here are some of the things you can expect from the course and how it will benefit you.

Our course:

• The MSc in International Political Communication, Advocacy and Campaigning is designed for:
  • communications professionals who want to improve their skills or deepen their understanding of the political process and how to influence it;
  • those working in policy areas who want to improve their understanding and insight into how media operate and how it might influence policy.
• It is ideal for:
  • individuals who want to develop their own skills for dealing with government and the media, rather than employing professional lobbying or PR consultants; or
  • those not working in this field who want to acquire the knowledge they need to move into it.
• The course is distinctive in the UK because it:
  • covers both traditional/conventional forms of political communication and new forms;
  • combines political communication, advocacy and campaigning; and
  • explores theory and seeks to apply this to actual situations.
• Traditional studies of political communication (including programmes at many other universities) look at the implications of print and broadcast media for political PR, political marketing/campaigning and political journalism. At Kingston we have updated our course material to reflect some of the latest developments in the field such as:
  • the increased use of new communication technologies alongside traditional ones and the new communicative spaces that have opened up in response - the use of Facebook and YouTube as political campaign tools for example;
  • the international, transnational and global dimensions of political communication, advocacy and campaigning;
  • the changing nature and forms of political expression and political mobilisation facilitated, for example, through the use of text messaging to orchestrate protests; and
  • the implications of media-government struggles for the type of public policies international organisations can adopt.
• Unlike most other masters degrees in political communications, every module has been written and developed specifically for this course. This ensures that you thoroughly explore every aspect of political communications in an integrated way.
• You can also choose to widen your studies by participating informally in other courses' lectures and seminars, such as those covering international conflict, journalism, human rights and media studies.
• The dissertation gives you the chance to study an area of interest in greater depth and gain valuable research skills.
• You take the same core modules as students on the Political Communication, Advocacy and Campaigning MSc, which means you may be able to transfer to this course if you wish. The difference between them lies in the optional modules and your choice of dissertation topic.

Our people:

• Our teaching staff has a reputation for excellence and innovation (read more in the Links with business and industry and Research areas sections).
• We also have good links with a range of different types of practitioners in the field, including campaign strategists, NGOs, PR consultants etc. We will invite some of these specialists to speak to you about the practice of political communication.
• You also benefit from the opportunity to network with other students and learn from their experiences. For example, past students in the field have included:
  • a business journalist with the Xinhua News Agency;
  • a civil servant from the Ministry of Defence;
  • the campaign strategist for a Thai political party;
  • a consultant with KPMG; and
  • a senior executive from the not-for-profit sector.

Our teaching methods:

• We use a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops to discuss theory, practice and research.

• The taught modules aim to prepare you for the job market. Alongside your academic studies, you gain skills in:
  • problem solving and organisation;
  • data collation, review and synopsis;
  • communication (oral, written and electronic);
  • time management; and
  • co-operation and teamwork.
• We also offer a part-time option for extra flexibility to help you fit your studies around other commitments:
  • lectures and seminars on core modules are delivered on one full-day each week;
  • we can usually arrange supervisions around work commitments, either at Kingston or in central London;
  • lecture notes and seminar materials are available via the internet if you are not able to attend any session; and
  • we also offer a part-time option for extra flexibility to help you fit your studies around other commitments.
• The programme also allows you to combine parts of this course with other postgraduate degree programmes at Kingston. Possible combinations include International Relations MSc; International Conflict MSc; or Human Rights MSc.
• Our campus is five minutes from the River Thames and Hampton Court or just 25 minutes to central London by train.